Age: NAS Alcohol: 46.3% Paid: $33 Maturation: Ex-bourbon and virgin American oak This is how you unapologetically leave off an age statement. Price it well below the top shelf stuff, give it an honest ABV, and use some virgin oak trickery to complete the subtractive maturation process. You can’t expect something less than $40 to blow your socks off, but there are no complaints from me about this whisky. Bright, honey lemon tea. Definite oaky base notes. Spiciness takes over on the palate before the citrus and oak tannins re-emerge on the finish. There’s subdued vanilla throughout. The time in the virgin oak really takes out any unpleasant sharpness or metallicness that’s expected in a cheap NAS whisky. This can handle some water too; livens up the nose without affecting the taste too much. MARK: 81/100. Recommended purchase.